First, here’s why your second floor feels like a sauna Blame physics: hot air rises while cold air sinks. That means your upstairs typically gets hotter than your lower levels, even if your air conditioner’s working in overdrive.

Why is it hotter on the second floor?

Cooler air settles into the lower areas of the house (usually where the thermostat is located); while heat from the outside begins to warm things up again. Because heat rises, the temperature on the second floor rises first, causing the second floor to feel warmer than the first floor.

How can I reduce the heat in my two story house?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: We can come in reduce attic temperature insulate. Those hot walls if there are any a little bit better ventilate. The attic.

How do you fix a hot upstairs?

If you are unable to maintain an even temperature in your house, consider the following interventions:

  1. Change Your Air Filter. …
  2. Repair and Insulate Your Ductwork. …
  3. Shell Out for a New Air Conditioner or Furnace. …
  4. Look Into Zone Control HVAC. …
  5. Investigate Your Attic’s Thermal Integrity. …
  6. Reduce Sources of Heat Upstairs. …
  7. Use Fans.


How can I cool my upstairs of a 2 story house?

Following are some of the ways to keep your upstairs cool without AC.

  1. Insulate the Attic. …
  2. Ventilate the Attic. …
  3. Consider a White Roof. …
  4. Block the Sun. …
  5. Limit the Use of Appliances That Generate Too Much Heat. …
  6. Replace Incandescent Lights With Compact Fluorescent Lamps. …
  7. Turn on Fans on the Second Floor to Increase Airflow.

Why is my 2nd floor so hot in winter?

Cold air is denser than warm air so it stays on the bottom while warm air rises. That’s why the downstairs can feel so chilly while the upstairs is toasty in the winter. This matter of physics is the same reason why homes in the south were built with tall ceilings before air conditioning existed.

How do I increase the airflow on my second floor?

How to Increase Airflow to Second Floor?

  1. Keep Air Conditioner Running in Fan Mode. …
  2. Install a Ceiling Fan. …
  3. Increase the Size of Return Vents. …
  4. Increase Number of Vents. …
  5. Clear the Vents. …
  6. Close Vents on Lower Floors. …
  7. Go for Ductless Air Conditioning. …
  8. Get a Zoned HVAC System.


How do I keep my upstairs cool?

Simple Fixes to Help Cool Your Upstairs

  1. Properly open vents, don’t block return air supply. Let the air flow! …
  2. Install lightly colored curtains or drapes. …
  3. Keep heat-generating appliances off. …
  4. Run a fan (when you’re in the room) …
  5. Keep your HVAC fan set to ‘on’ …
  6. Inspect your ductwork. …
  7. Check your insulation.


How can I cool my upstairs of a 2 story house without AC?

But for some homes, especially those built before the 1950s, AC isn’t an option.



Best Ways to Cool a House: Upstairs

  1. Place Box Fans in Windows. …
  2. Invest in the Right Ceiling Fans. …
  3. Optimize the Fans You Have. …
  4. Spot-Cool Your Bed. …
  5. Use Breathable Sheets. …
  6. Have a Nighttime Cool-Down Routine. …
  7. Flush Out Hot Air in the Evenings.


Why is it hotter upstairs than downstairs?

Why is my upstairs always too hot? Warm air rises. It’s a fact of nature: warm air rises above cool air. So at any given time in your home, your upper levels likely contain more warm air than the lower levels because warm air tends to gravitate up toward them.

How do I reduce the heat on top of my floor?

How to Keep Top Floor Apartment Cool in the Summer?

  1. Insulate And Vent The Attic.
  2. Dehumidify.
  3. Close Your Blinds For a Certain Period of Time.
  4. Install Ceiling Fans Wisely.
  5. Be Smart with Your Doors.
  6. Don’t Cook Inside During the Day Time.
  7. Turn off Your Lights and Other Electronics Equipment.

Does a 2 story house need 2 AC units?

Two units allow for an easier time balancing the desired temperature in your home. Generally, one area of your home will be warmer or more difficult to cool than another. In a two-story home, the upstairs area is often warmer, as warm air rises. Having two AC units in your home can help balance out the temperature.

Are two story homes more energy efficient?

Heating and Cooling



In theory, a two-story house is more energy efficient. When compared to its one-story counterpart with the same square footage, a two-story house has less surface area to heat and cool.

How does AC work in a two story house?

Having one AC unit for two story home can be done. You will need a dual zone AC with one unit that powers both air conditioners. Having two AC units in your home (upstairs and downstairs) can help balance out the temperature. The best option here is a mini split air conditioner.

Should I turn upstairs AC off?

If you have window units, and you primarily stay in the lower level of your home, there is nothing wrong with turning the AC off upstairs. Heat rises, so turning off the AC on the upper floor (or floors) will not affect your comfort level downstairs, nor will it affect how much the units downstairs have to work.

Can I have 2 thermostats in my house?

Yes, in principle, you can use two thermostats to control one HVAC zone. If correctly installed, set, and used you can actually save on your electricity bill. You can also connect more than one thermostat to a single HVAC unit.

How do two thermostats work together?

When multiple thermostats control one system, the house is divided into zones using dampers in the ductwork throughout the house. When one zone needs heating or cooling, the damper for the ductwork in that zone opens, guiding the warm or cool air to that zone.

Is it better to put an AC unit upstairs or downstairs?

During winter, set the downstairs temperature to the ideal level, and upstairs two degrees colder. During the winter, this isn’t as much of a problem, because you want a warmer home. But it’s always helpful during those winter months to set your thermostat to around 72 to 75 degrees.

How do you regulate heat in a two-story house with one thermostat?

Set the first floor’s thermostat to your desired temperature, and then decrease the temperature setting on your thermostats by two degrees as you go up. Warm air on the first floor will rise and make the upper floors more comfortable.

Where should a thermostat be placed in a two-story house?

Best Place for a Thermostat in Your Two-Story House



So for your two-story home, your upstairs will feel warmer than the downstairs. For this reason, it is best to install your thermostat in the most central location. Placing it higher up on the ground floor will make it more central and ideal.